THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


ESSIE 


A     ROMANCE     IN     RHYME 


BY 

LAURA  DAYTON  FESSENDEN 


ILLUSTRATED  BY  J.  H.    VANDERPOEL 


LEE    AND   SHEPARD   PUBLISHERS 

10    MILK     STREET 

B  O  S  T  O  X 


COPYRIGHT,  1895,  BY  LEE  AND  SHEPARD 


All  rights  reserved 
ESSIE 


PRESSWORK     BY     ROCKWELL     AND     CHURCHILL 


ESSIE 


PRELUDE 

"  IT'S   a    horrid    bore,"    quoth    my  lady,  "  but   I 

see  nothing  else  to  do. 
They   were    very   kind    to    Laurence,"    and   here 

my  lady  drew 
Her  Point  d'Alengon  mouchoir,  and  wiped  a  tear 

or  so 
From    her   ruddy   cheek    (a    tribute    to   her  boy, 

dead  long  ago). 
"We'll,  do  as  you  like,  my  lady,"  says  my  lord 

from  behind  the  News. 
•'  Invitations  I  don't  interfere  with,  so,  my  lady, 

do  just  as  you  choose." 


904134 


THE   INVITATION 

MY  DEAR  Miss  BRUCE,  —  We  are  uearing  your 

annual  holiday; 

I  presume  it  is  rather  stupid  when  your  school 
mates  are  away ! 
Do  you  think   a  trip  to   England   your  pleasure 

would  enhance  ? 
If   yes,    make    your   preparations    for   leaving   la 

belle  France. 
I  have  in  my  home  no  daughters  to  help  make 

time  pass  away 
(Only  Sir  Charles  and  myself,  dear),  so  I  fear 

'twill  be  far  from  gay ; 
And     McPherson     (my    son)    is     making,    if     I 

rightly  understand, 
An   arrangement  with   a  stag    party  to   summer 

in  Switzerland. 

7 


8 


ESSIE 


Another   thing  :    we    have   decided   not   to    open 

our  house  in  town, 
So   I   fear   the   attractions    I    offer  are  not  of   a 

kind  to  crown 
A   young   girl's   cup  with   pleasure.     Still,  dear, 

if  you'd  like  to  come, 


And  see  the  old  house   that  Laurence  told  you 

of  as  "  his  home," 
And  see  the  mother  that  loved  him  (and  misses 

him  day  by  day), 
You  will  find  a  kindly  welcome, 

From  your  friend, 

MARY  LANGLEY. 


THE  ACCEPTANCE 


THE   ACCEPTANCE 

MY  DEAR  LADY  LANGLEY,  —  I'm  sitting  in  the 

horridest  chatter  and  din 
Of  at  least  five  nations    of   school-girls ;   so   it's 

rather  hard  to  begin, 
To  tell  you  how  glad  I  am  to  leave  this  la  belle 

France. 
(If  I'd  been  invited  to  Hades,  last  summer,  I'd 

jumped  at  the  chance.*) 
I    had    to    show    my   guardian    your    letter   that 

asked  me  to  come. 
He's  an  American  fossil,  that  used  to  live  near 

us  at  home  ; 
But,  from  being  for  years   in   Paris,  he's   grown 

to  adopt  their  way 
Of  guarding  wards  and  daughters,  which,  really, 

I  must  say, 
To  a  girl   of  republican  spirit, -is  just  a  regular 

cross  ; 
For  (to  use  a  coined  word  of  my  country)  each 

girl  is  about  her  own  "  boss " 


10  ESSIE 

In  the  land  of  the   "  Star-Spangled  Banner,"   in 

that  dear  land  of  the  free, 
So  I  just  detest  Mr.  Jenkins,  and  his  Frenchiny 

it  over  me. 
So   when   old    Guardy   Jenkins,   in    one   eyeglass, 

tried  to  look  \vise, 
And   began   a   long   string   of    questions,    I   felt 

my  very  hair  rise, 
And  I  said,   "Look  here,  Mr.  Jenkins,  I'll  just 

have  you  to  know, 
If   you   shrug   and   talk   till   you're  black  in    the 

face,  all  the  very  same,  I  shall  go  ! " 
He  gave  in  at  once  (per  usual),  he  bade  Madam 

"to  prepare 

Mademoiselle   for   a   journey   to    England  —  Ma 
demoiselle  would  summer  there." 
I   am  glad  that  you  have  no   daughters,  —  girls 

always  end  with  a  row 
Over   some    soft   thing    or    other,    one    can't   tell 

why,  or  how  ; 
Then  I'm  glad  your  son's  in  the  mountains,  for 

I'm  only  just  sixteen, 
And  men  have   a  fashion   of    thinking  a  girl   of 

that  age  rather  "  green  ;  " 
As   for   being   out   of   a   city,    I've    precious   too 

much  of  that  here  ; 


THE  ACCEPTANCE  11 

And   your   proper   London   acquaintances  would 

style  me  horrid  and  queer; 
And  then,  my  dear  Lady  Langley,  it  will  be  so 

sweet  to  know 
I  am  treading  the  very  pathways  that  Laurence 

trod  long  ago. 
I  was  very  fond   of    your   Laurence ;  I  liked  his 

odd,  foreign  way ; 
And   used   to   sit   beside   his   bed    in    preference 

to  play. 

For    you    know,    my    Lady    Langley,    that    Lau 
rence  was  poor  and  ill ; 
And  even   now,  in  looking  back,  my  eyes  begin 

to  fill. 
From  the  first  he  seemed  fond  of  Essie  —  Essie, 

my  lady,  is  me. 
I   don't  know  how  it  happened  —  I  was  wild  as 

I  could  be. 
Mamma  died  when  I  was  a  baby,  and  so  (though 

papa  was  refined) 
I    grew   up    wilful    and    slangy,    and   never  was 

known  to  mind. 

The    doctor    said   'twas    consumption ;    that   Lau 
rence  would  have  to  go 
Away  from  us,  up  to  heaven,  before  the  winter's 

snow. 


12 


ESSIE 


Laurence    was    not    sad    at    the    summons ;    and 

once,  when  I  was  near 
(I    always   was  near  him    some   way),  lie    called 

to  me,  "  Essie,  dear ! 
Are    your    tasks     for    the    day    all     finished  ? 

"Yes,"  I  said,  "and  what  then?" 


"  Come  and  sit  down  beside  me,  and  bring  your 

paper  and  pen. 
I    want   you    to  write    me    a   letter ;    and,   Essie, 

I  want  it  to  be 
(Until  I  die),  little  Essie,  a  secret  between  you 

and  me ; 


THE  ACCEPTANCE  13 

'Twill  not  be  long,   wee    lassie   (and  I  shall  be 

glad  to  die)." 
So   I   sobbed    him    out   a   promise,   but   he    bade 

me  "  not  to  cry." 
Well,    I    wrote    the    letter,    my    lady,    how    you 

read  it,  I  can't  think,  I'm  sure, 
For   I    had    no    idea    of   spelling ;    punctuation   I 

could  not  endure  ; 
But  I  wrote  his   words,  my  lady,  and  I'm  sorry 

now  to  state, 
That    I   just   absolutely   abhorred    you,  with    the 

hatingest  kind  of  hate. 
What    if    poor   dear    Laurence    had    been    wilful 

and  wild, 
It    seemed    so    very    unnatural     that    a    mother 

should  see  her  child 
Turned    in    shame    from    the    roof-tree,    with    a 

father's   curse   on   his  head. 
Your  husband  seemed  a  monster  ;   but   Laurence 

always  said,  — 
"Essie,  I    richly    deserved    it,  I    was  wilful    and 

bad ; 
I  know  my  wayward  spirit  has  made  my  lady's 

life  sad." 
You    know  how  he    asked  "  forgiveness  "    —  that 

"  kind  memories  you  would  keep 


14  ESSIE 

Of   your  youngest    boy  —  your   Laurence  —  who 

soon  would  be  asleep." 

So  glad  to  rest  in  quiet,  after  life's  short  day, 
But   what's   the    use    of    recalling   when    I   only 

want  to  say, 
That    I'm    glad    you    forgave    him,  —  glad    that 

Laurence  rests 
With  the  turf  of   old  England  above  him  —  the 

land  he  loved  the  best. 

And   as   to    our   kindness,    my   lady,  we    Ameri 
cans  have  a  way 
Of    being    a    generous    nation ;    of    being   apt  to 

say 
To  a  stranger  that  asks  our  protection,  a  "yea," 

and  not  a  "  nay." 
But   enough   of   all    this.     I'll    be   with   you  ere 

the  close  of  the  week  ; 
And,  my  lady,  I  really  intend  to  be  docile  and 

gentle  and  meek. 
I    hope   your  son's  in  the  mountains,  or,  if   not, 

that  we  shall  cry  truce. 
Believe  me,  my  lady,  I'm  ever, 

Your  little  friend, 

ESSIE  C.  BRUCE. 


ESSIE'S  FIRST  HOME  LETTER  15 


ESSIE'S   FIRST    HOME    LETTER 

DEAR     CHICKEN,  —  I've    crossed    the    Channel, 

and  reached  the  old  English  shore 
(Every  time  I  get  on  the  ocean  I'm  sicker  than 

ever  before). 
Old    Guardy    was    true    to   the    last ;    and   stuck 

to  me  like  a  burr, 
And  the  lectures  and  cautions  he  gave,  will  not 

in  the  least  deter 
Me  from  doing   just   as   I   like.     Can  a  leopard 

change  his  spots? 

"  No,  he  can't."     Well,  do  you  suppose  his  talk 
ing  would  change  me  lots  ? 
I    said,   why   shouldn't  "  they    stare  ; "    I'm    very 

pretty,  grandpa, 
You  can't  deny  that;    for  they  say,  "I  am    like 

poor  mamma ; " 
And   that    she    was    a    belle    in   her   youth,   and 

you   were   her  beau, 
Till    Dr.    Bruce    came  and  cut   you    out,  so  you 

can't  be  surprised,  you  know ; 


16  ESSIE 

But   in    my  heart,  dear   Charley,  I    felt   a   little 

bit  queer, 

A  flutter  of  expectation,   and  a  tiny  bit  of  fear. 
At  the  steamer's  dock  there  met  me,  the  stew 
ard,  a  Mr.  Ray, 
He   had   come   that   morning  from   Leighcroft — 

all  the  way; 
And  his  manner  was  so  respectful  that  I  began 

to  see, 
That   if   Guardy  was  provoking,   he    knew  what 

ought  to  be. 
So    I    vowed    I'd    be    calm    as    a    duchess,    and 

that,  all   the   way  by  train, 
I  would  sit  like   a  small  stone  image,  and  gaze 

out  on  the  pelting  rain. 
But    my    legs    got    awfully    cramped.      (I    had 

skipped  my  dull   novel  through), 
And   so    I    looked   about   me,    as    the    next   best 

thing  to  do. 
Mr.  Ray  was   respectfully  napping,  screened   by 

the  morning   Times  ; 
His    snores    were    so    funny   and    muffled,    they 

made  me  think  of  the  chimes 
On  our  village  church  at  home.     Chick,  I  don't 

have  need  to  tell 
What   I    did,    for   you    know    I    giggled  —  girls 

always  do,  and  —  well, 


I  vowed   I'd   be  calm  as  a  duchess 


ESSIE'S   FIRST   HOME  LETTER  19 

I   could  not   very   well   help   it,    my  eyes   would 

take  a  look 
At  the  others  in  our  compartment,  and  there  sat 

a  man  with  a  book. 
I   thought   at   first   he  was   reading,  but   now    I 

know  that  he, 

With  very  much  more  interest,  was  calmly  watch 
ing  me. 
"  Ce   monde    est  plein    de  fous,"    I've    heard    our 

madam  say. 
I    wonder    if    that    fellow,    Chick,    expected    me 

to  pay 
Him  back  the  laughing  glances,  such  as  he  seemed 

inclined  to  bestow? 
Chick,  it  could  have  been  a  flirtation  (it  was  hard 

to  let  it  go). 
(But  I  did.)     I  gave  back  one  vacant  stare,  then 

turned  my  head  away, 
And  kept  it  turned  (though  my  poor  neck  ached), 

till  I  heard  the  porter  say, 
"  All  off  for  Leighcrof t  Manor !  "  I  saw  through 

the   door  disappear 
The   heels   of    my   would-be   flirtation    (I    wonder 

if   he  lives   here). 
My  dear,   the   carriage   that  met   me   was    just  a 

family  ark, 


20  ESSIE 

And  I  really  believe  the  servants  expected  a  real, 

live,  stark, 
Staring,    wild    American    Indian,    with    feathers, 

war-whoop,  and  all ; 
For,  at  sight  of  me  their  looks  darkened,  /  wasnt 

the  thing  at  all  ; 

A  miss   in   a  Paris  bonnet,  en   pannier,  en  high- 
heeled  shoes, 
Instead   of   a  sooty  savage   in  war-paint  or  with 

a  papoose. 
But   servants    are   well    trained    in    England,    so 

they  opened  the  old  ark  door, 
O  Chick,  such    snifty  cushions   I   never   lounged 

in  before  ! 
Ray  did  not  get  in ;   he   simply   closed   the   door 

and  stalked  away, 
And  hastened  to  tell  (I   doubt  not)  the   buxom 

Mistress  Ray 
And  a  host  of   red-cheeked  daughters  "that  the 

importation  had  come  ;  " 
To   call    me    a    little    "  pipe-stem,"    and    "  thank 

heaven  the  girls  at  home 
Had  not  putty  faces  and  Chinese  feet,"  and  fifty 

other  compliments, 
That  I  won't  take  time  to  repeat.     On  we  dashed 

through  the  twilight  — 


Stood  a  gentle-looking  lady." 


ESSIE'S   FIRST  HOME  LETTER  23 

The  village  faded  away  —  arid  there  dawned  upon 

my  sight 

The  Manor ;    it  stood   upon   a   hillside,  with   ter 
raced  lawns  before, 
And,    like    some    grand    old    picture,    before    the 

open  door 
Stood  a   gentle-looking  lady,   clad    in    soft   robes 

of  gray  ; 
One    glance    in    her    face,  and    fears,   Chick,  fled 

on  swift  wings  away. 
By   her   side    was    a   portly   gentleman    (he    and 

Guardy  would  make  a  pair), 
Very    fat    and    comfortable-looking,    without    any 

stock  of  hair ; 
He    hurried    as    fast    as    he    could,  and    held    out 

one  puffy  hand, 
While   he  said  in    a   winey   whisper,    "  Welcome, 

dear,  to  England." 
And    then    my    lady    caught    me,    and    held    me 

against  her  breast ; 
I  looked  at  her  through  a  mist,  Chick,  and  felt 

more  perfect  rest 
Than   I   have    for  two  long  years,  since  father's 

last  kiss  lay 
On   my  trembling,  trembling  lips,   on   the   day   I 

sailed  away. 


24  ESSIE 

It  wasn't  a  bit   like   the   stories  (why  will    nov 
elists  lie  ?) 
My  lady  was  just  a  woman,  and  she  let  me  have 

my  cry 
Out  on  her  motherly   bosom.      Then   she  kissed 

me,  and  said,  — 

"  There,  there,  yon  are  tired,  dearie  ;   cease  cry 
ing,  you'll  make  your  eyes  red." 
Well,    we    had   tea   together,   my  lord,  my  lady, 

and  I, 
With  no  one   but  ourselves    and    a  white-haired 

butler  by. 
Then    we   sat   and   talked    of    Laurence    till    the 

great  clock  struck  nine, 
When  my  lady  said,  "Are  you  ready  for  bed?" 

Be  sure,  dear,  I  did  not  decline. 
Dear  Charley,  I'm  awfully  sleepy,  but  my  room 

is  very  swell ; 
I    wisli   it   was    not,    I    tell  you,    for   it's    rather 

frightful  to  dwell 
With  four  huge  life-sized  pictures  of   some  long 

gone  ladies  gay  ; 
I    can    fancy    them    stepping    down    from    their 

frames  when  the  lights  are  taken  away. 
The  bed  is  plump  and  fat  and  high,  but  yet  I 

haven't  a  doubt 


ESSIE'S    FIRST   HOME  LETTER 


25 


Every  one    of   those    four  up  yonder  had   on   it 

their  "  laying  out." 
But  heavens  !    I'm  getting  the  shivers,  and  I'll 

frighten  myself  to  death, 
So,  Chicken,  I'm  yours  forever, 

Your  sister, 

ESSIE,  saith. 


26  ESSIE 


McPHERSON    TO    HIS   FRIEND 

DEAR   PHILIP,  —  The  fates  were  against  me.     I 

would  not  be  able  to  say 
What  I  said,  and  what  I  did  not,  when  I  knocked 

into  our  man,  Ray, 
And  learned  'twas  his  charming  mission  to  bring 

out  la  petite  squaw 
To  summer  at    Leighcroft   Manor.     By   thunder, 

Phil,  what  a  bore  ! 
I  am  sure  my  lord  will  endure  tortures  far  worse 

than  his  gout ; 
/thank  heaven  for  Switzerland's  journey,  so  that 

/  am  counted  out. 
But,  as  I  said,  luck  was  against  me ;  for,  I  would 

have  you  know, 
I   had    telegraphed    my    valet    to    send    on    word 

to  Legrow 
That  I'd  take  the  noon  train  for  Leighcroft,  and 

arrange  with  him  then  and  there 
For  that   sorrel    colt — you    know  her?   sired    by 

"•  Young  Golden  Hair. 


McPIIERSON   TO   HIS   FRIEND  27 

No  time  to  lose,  for  Bronson  was  hard  upon  my 

track, 
So    I  was    booked    and    done  for,  and    could    not 

well   turn  back. 
So  I  cornered  Ray,  and  told  him  about  my  little 

fix, 
Bade    him    not    to    heed    me,    nor    let    the    little 

minx 
Know  I  was  son  of  my  mother — no  recognition 

to  make  ; 
But,  by  George  !  we  got  seats  in  the  very  same 

car.     I  donned  my  wide-awake, 
And  when  the  train    got  in    motion,  I    took    my 

novel  out ; 
And,    Phil,    by    all     the    powers !     what    do    yon 

think  'twas  about? 
I    had    bought    the    thing    in  London,  at    least    I 

went  to  the  stand 

Near  the  depot,  and  took  the  book  that  lay  near 
est  to  my  hand  — 
A    little  American    story ;    the    subject  was    very 

rum  — - 
"Helen's  Babies"  I  think  the  title — T  tell  you, 

I  laughed  some 
Over  the    random   purchase ;    but    as  'twas    all    I 

had  to  read, 


28  ESSIE 

I  found,  in  the  little    urchins,  friends    in  a  time 

of  need. 

I  wanted  to  get  a  look  at  my  lady  mother's  guest ; 
But   she    sat  with   her  face    to    the  window,   till 

I  thought  I  should  not  be  blest, 
When    Ray   dropped    into    a   slumber,   and    sang 

such  a  tuneful  lay, 
That   the   girl's    face,  from    the    window,   turned 

itself  my  way. 
I    don't    think    it's    fair  in  a    fellow  to   judge    of 

looks  on  a  train, 
Besides,    la  petite    Sauvage    had    been    out    in   a 

pouring  rain. 
So  all  I  can  tell  you  is,  that  her  eyes  are  large 

and  gray, 
That  her  hair  is  brown,  and  was  tumbled  down 

in  a  pretty  sort  of  way  ; 
But  upon  this  atom  of  girlhood  I  did  not  waste 

much  time, 
I  was  thinking  of  you,  old  fellow,  and  that  soon 

we'd  begin  to  climb 
In  earnest  the  grand  Swiss  mountains  ;  but,  Phil, 

I  pause  to  say, 

Can't  you  get  off  from  town,  if  only  for  a  day? 
I  want  you    to   see    my  purchase ;    I    came    here 

incognito  ; 


McPHEBSON   TO   HIS   FRIEND  29 

But    my  lady  has    found    me    out,    and   so    from 

the  inn  I  go 
To  my  old  quarters  at  home.      So  corne  up,  and 

bring  some  of  the  boys, 
Sir    Guinri    if    you     like,    or    Tom,    or    our    jolly 

friend  Joe  LeRoys, 
And    we'll   talk    our   plans    all    over,   and   I   will 

venture  to  say 
There  will  be  nothing  stupid  during  your  little 

stay. 
Good-night,    good-night,    old    fellow,    now,    is    it 

not  deuced  queer, 
That,   after  all   my  planning,  I    find   myself   just 

here? 

LEIGHCROFT  MANOR. 

I  am  more  than  sorry,  my  dear  old  Phil, 

To  hear  by  post  that  you  were  ill ; 

To  know  that  you  cannot,  my  dear  old  boy, 

Take  part  with  me  in  the  wonderful  joy 

That   Thursday  evening   holds   in   store.     And   I 

regret  the  forced  delay 
That  still  keeps  back  the  wished-for  day 
Of   our  Switzerland  journey.      So  haste  and  get 

well ; 

And,  in   the  meantime,   I've  much  to  tell. 
The  fellows  came  up  (five  good  and  strong, 


30  ESSIE 

Guinn,  Harry,  LeRoys,  Tom  and  Will  Long). 
They,    thank    fortune,    were    only   a   day   behind 

me  here. 

So,  you  see,  old  fellow,  I'd  little  to  fear 
From  my  lady  mother's  guest,  who  does  not  in 

the  least  advance 
On  acquaintance  (she's  a  savage) ;  and  why  they 

sent  her  to  France 
Is   one    of   the    unsolved    problems.     I    don't  see 

how  ma  has  the  face 
To  introduce   la   belle  Sauvaye ;    I    think   she's   a 

perfect  disgrace. 
Her  looks  are  all  well  enough,  complexion,  eyes, 

and  hair ; 
In  fact,  I  think  she  would  be  called  by  most  men 

d^bonnaire. 
But  manners,  Phil,  she  has  none.      I  asked  her, 

in  casual  way 
(To  open  the   conversation),   how  she   came   the 

other  day? 
I  thought,  perhaps,  the  pink  cheeks  might  a  trifle 

pinker  grow, 
At  the  seemingly  innocent  question ;  but,  I  would 

have  you  know, 
She    lifted    her   large    eyes   at    me,    and   said,    in 

a  pert,  brisk  way,  — 


McPHERSON   TO   HIS   FRIEND  81 

"/?  oh,  you  do   not  know,  do  you?     I  came  by 

balloon  from  Calais !  " 
My  lord  led  her  out  to  dinner,  she  did  not  seem 

honored  at  all ; 
She  talked  with  the  ease  of  a  duchess ;  informed 

us  "  of  her  skill  at  ball," 
Said  she  "  climbed  trees,  rode  bare-back,  played 

'  shinny  '   '   (great  heavens  !  what's  that  ?), 
And  another  heathenish  game  called  '-cradle  the 

cat." 
The  butler  was  highly  amused ;  and  so  —  strange 

to  say  —  was  my  lord ; 
And  my  lady  looked  slightly  perplexed,    and  / 

was  horridly  bored. 
After  dinner  we  walked  in  the  garden.     I  plucked 

a  rose  from  a  tree, 
And  presented  it  to  la  Sauvage,  saying,  "  Oublier 

je  ne  puis;  " 
And  what  do  you  think   came   her  answer  —  "I 

would  not  if  I  were  you, 

But  a  man  that  makes  a  fool  of  himself  is  noth 
ing  uncommon  or  new." 

And  with  this  my  gentle  Savage   took   my  prof 
fered  rose  of  peace, 
While   from  her  sweet  society  I  quickly  sought 

release. 


32  ESSIE 

The  next  day  the  boys  came  down ;  each  I  for 
mally  introduce, 
To  each,  in  return,  a  dainty  nod  vouchsafes  Miss 

Essie  Bruce. 
I  think  she  "  takes  "  with  the  boys  ;  she's  inclined 

to  snare 
A  fellow  into  thinking,  late  nights,  of  gray  eyes 

and  brown  hair, 
So   Guinn   has    told   me,    Phil,   and   he's   known 

as  a  hardened  sinner. 
Tom  is   growing   fond   of    croquet,  and    LeRoys 

forgets  his  dinner, 
In  order  to  drink  in    the    music    of   Miss    Essie 

Bruce's  voice. 
(Miss    Essie    talks    too   much    for  me,    but   every 

man  to  his  choice.) 
She  has  won  my  mother  completely.     Last  night 

I  happened  to  be 
Out  in   the  swinging  hammock,  the   ladies  were 

waiting  for  tea, 
And    I    saw    la    belle    Sauvage    climb    into    my 

mother's  chair, 
And  lay  her  head  on  her  bosom  (my  lady's  lips 

touched  her  hair), 
And   I    heard    her   voice    speak    softly,    saw   her 

sweet  eyes  gentle  grow, 


McPHEliSON   TO   HIS   FRIEND  33 

Saw  her  red  lips  part  in  loving  words  (in  words 

I  could  not  know). 
But  the  words  brought  tears   to  my  lady's  eyes, 

and  brought  kisses  upon  the   face 
Of   the  tiny  creature  in    her  arms  (for  the  time 

rd  have  taken  her  place). 
Then  Sir  Charles   calls   her   "  his    beauty,"  says, 

"  when  she  goes  away, 
She  will  take  all  the  sunshine  with  her  for  many 

a  long,  long  day !  " 
The   servants   are    her   sworn    allies ;   they  laugh 

at  her  heathenish  prank, 
And  still  (/  can't  understand  it),  if  Miss  Essie 

held  the  rank, 
In    right,   of    a    titled   princess,  they  could  show 

no  more  deference  true 

Than  she  seems  to   call  forth   from   them  when 
ever  her  bidding  they  do. 

But  I'm  off  for  a  constitutional;   and  this  even 
ing,  before  I  retire, 
For  your  benefit,  my  invalid,  I'll  tune  my  feeble 

lyre. 
No    pun    intended,    old   fellow    (you    know    I'm 

renowned  for  the  truth), 
So,  till  evening,  now  I  leave  thee,  O  much  loved 

friend  of  my  youth ! 


34  ESSIE 


ESSIE    TO    HER    PAPA 

MY  DEAR,  DEAR  PAPA,  —  If  you  could  only  be 
On  this  other  side  of  the  great  wide  sea, 
That  divides,  with  its  waters  of  greenish  blue, 
Your  own  little  Essie,  your  daughter,  from  you, 
I  know  we'd  be  happy  and  merry  and  gay  ; 
For,  dear,  dear  papa,  'tis  a  glorious  day  - 
A  morning  in  June  —  not  a  cloud  to  be  seen, 
The  garden  is  fragrant,  the  meadows  are  green, 
And  the  river  runs  yonder  —  a  silvery  thread  — 
And  the  choir  of  robins  just  over  my  head 
Are  singing  like  "  fury  and  all  possessed  " 
To  me   (and  three  birds  in  a  horse-hair  nest). 
Ah,    if    ma    tante    could    be    allowed    from    her 

grave  to  rise, 
I  think  she'd  change  her  will,  when  with  opened 

eyes, 
She    saw   how   much    of    change    had   come    o'er 

the  orphan  child  ; 
What    heaps    of    savoir-vivre    had    Mademoiselle 

Essie,  the  wild  ! 


"  My  old  maid  Aunt' 


ESSIE   TO   HER    PAPA  37 

"  Speak  well  of  the  dead,"  they  say ;  I  wish  I 
could  now,  but  I  can't, 

For  I  always  did,  from  the  very  first,  detest  my 
old  maid  aunt. 

She  called  me  "Esther"  (through  her  nose),  be 
fore  I  hardly  knew 

The  very  difference  between  my  little  glove  and 
shoe. 

She  always  kept  me  "spick  and  span,"  she  read 
me  books  on  "infant  sin," 

And  once  she  whipped  me  when  I  yawned  and 
said,  "O  Aunty,  that's  too  thin." 

She  punished  me  with  Bible  texts,  and  with  the 
sweet  commandments  ten ; 

And,  oh,  in  church,  if  I  forgot  one  single  small 
"Amen," 

A  word  in  Litany  or  Creed,  it  was  a  sin  of  deep 
est  dye  ; 

And  if  I  did  not  mend  my  way,  I'd  rue  it  by 
and  by. 

She  would  not  hear  of  fairy-tales  —  More  and 
Edge  worth,  goodey-good, 

Formed  my  stock  of  literature  —  were  my  only 
mental  food. 

I'm  glad  our  goat  ate  Hannah  up ;  and  I'll  con 
fess  right  now, 


38  ESSIE 

That  Miss   Edgeworth  fell   a   victim    to  Bess  — 

our  brindle  cow. 
Well,   she    asked    me    one    fine    evening    (I    had 

been  unusually  bad), 
"  Esther,   I'd  like   to  know  what  you   would  do 

if  you  had 
No    kind    aunty   to    love    you,   and    to   care    for 

you  day  by  day  ?  " 
I  said,  "  I'll  tell  you,  Aunty,  I'd  just  be  '  gallus ' 

and  gay ; 
I'd  play  with  Chick  and  the  fellows,  shinny  and 

marbles  and  ball  — 
I'd  go  without  shoes  and  stockings,  I'd  hang  up 

my  French  doll 
On   the    topmost   limb  of   the   highest  tree,   and 

then  I'd  tell  some  lies, 
And  then  (to  know  what  it  felt  like)  I'd  set  up 

a  shop  of  mud  pies." 

That  night  she  took  a  horrible  cold,  next  morn 
ing  she  made  her  will ; 
If  I'd  cheesed  it  about  the  lies   (and   the    pies) 

she  might  be  living  still. 
She    left    me    all    that    she    possessed  —  jewels, 

bonds,   and   land, 
"  To  me,  and  mine  forever,"  she  said.     But  this 

was  her  dying  command, 


ESSIE   TO   HER   PAPA  39 

"  That  if   her  niece    should    live   sweet  fourteen 

to  be, 
She  must  make  a  journey  across  the  great  wide 

sea, 
And  enter  a  school  in  France  ;  there  must  Essie 

remain 
Three   long  and  studious  years,  ere  she  journey 

home  again." 
And  then  she  gave  us  old  Guardy  —  "  I  do  here 

provide 
As  guardian,  Mr.  Jenkins,  a  friend  both  true  and 

tried." 
Papa,  two  years  of  the  three  have  actually  flown 

away, 
And  there  remaineth,  father  mine,  but  one  little 

year  to  stay. 
I  left  my  native  land,  papa,  a  very  rough,  rough 

stone  ; 
And  I  greatly  fear,  papa,  Essie  has  not  polished 

grown  ; 
Still,  I  jabber  French  like  a  native,  and  I  play 

six  music  books  through, 
And  I  know  how  to  walk,  to  dance,  and  to  talk, 

and  there's  the  list,    Voild  tout. 
I'm  afraid  I  have  not  forgotten  old  ways,  which 

you  will  regret  to  see, 


40  ESSIE 

When  I  tell  you   I'm  writing  in  pencil   because 

I  am  up  in  a  tree ; 
Yes,  not  a  little  tree  either  ;  but  for  comfort  I'll 

hasten  to  say, 

No  one   but  the  gardener   knows  it,   the   house 
hold  are  all  away. 
My  lady  has  gone  with  the  vicar's  wife  to  visit 

the  village  school ; 
Sir  Charles  has  gone  to  a  neighboring  squire's ; 

and  the  great  big,  stupid  mule 
They   call  their  son   McPherson    (in   a   suit   I'd 

blush  to  wear) 
Is   off  with  five   boon  companions   pretending  to 

hunt  for  hare. 
I   think   I   heard  them   say  for   that,   but  it  may 

have  been  only  air ; 
But  whatever  it   is,   thank  goodness,   he's  gone, 

and  where,  I  don't  know  or  care. 
Tell   Cluck  my  romance  was  squelched,  that  the 

wonderful  vis-d-vis 
Was  no  other  than  Mr.  Mac  Langley  —  how  dared 

he  flirt  with  me  ? 
And    then   when   we    were    presented,    he    asked 

me  which  way  I  came  down? 
I    said,    "  By    balloon,    Mr.    Langley."      Pa,    you 

should  have  seen  him  frown. 


"  Because  I  am  up  in  a  tree.' 


ESSIE  TO  HER   PAPA  43 

But  McPherson  is  rather  good-looking  —  he  has 

dark  brown  eyes  and  hair; 
But  I  know  he  likes  fast  horses,  and  I'm  sure 

I  heard  him  swear, 
Under    his    breath,    at    his    valet,    for    forgetting 

some  trifling  thing. 
He's  off  for  Switzerland  next  week;  I'll  be  glad 

when  he  takes  wing ; 

But,  before  he  goes,  my  lady  is  going  to  enhance 
My  misery  by  giving  me  a  little  informal  dance 
On  Thursday  night  on  the  lawn  ;  "  informal ! ' ' 

listen,  my  dear, 

I   want  you  to    know  the    things    they  term   in 
formal  here. 
The  invitations  are  written  on  crested  paper,  and 

say, 
"It  is  Lady  Langley's  desire  to  make  a  pleasant 

day 
For  her   young   friend,    Miss    Essie   Bruce  ;   will 

the  Misses  Blank  prepare 
To  meet  Miss  Bruce  on  Thursday  next  (if  said 

Thursday  shall  prove  fair)  ?  " 
The    guests    are    bidden   to    croquet,    the   guests 

are  asked  to  dine 
With    Miss    Bruce    and    Lady   Langley,    if    the 

weather  shall  prove  fine. 


44  ESSIE 

Then   my   Lady    Langley  knows   so  well,  young 

people  do  not  scorn 
A  dance   at  any  season,   that  she  shall   have  on 

the  lawn 
A  tent   raised.     There'll    be   music,    and   so    the 

Misses  Blank  may 
Prepare   to  wander  through  the  dance  and  while 

the  evening  hours  away. 
I  think  I  shall  wear  pink    silk   (I  had  it  made 

on  the  sly  — 
Gave  the  order  to  Worth  on  a  paper  slip  when 

Guardy  turned  his  eye). 
It's   sniffy,   I   tell   yon,  pa,  princess,  train    three 

yards  long  ; 
Perhaps   'twill   be   rather  grand  parure,  for  I'm 

bound  to  get  things  wrong. 
I  suppose  the  guests  will  come,  each   clad   in    a 

book-muslin  dress, 
And   behind   their   fans   the    dowagers    will    call 

my  style  "  excess." 
We    will     see  —  I'll    write    and     tell    you,    oh, 

heavens !  what  do  I  see  ? 
McPherson    and    his   friends,    papa,    are    coming 

toward  this  tree. 


Mt'PHERSON'S   LETTER    CONTINUED          45 


McPHERSON'S    LETTER   CONTINUED 

THE  evening   is    gone,  and  the   night   has   been 

reigning  for  several  hours. 
Everything   that   I    know   of 's    asleep ;    from   the 

garden  the  fragrance  of  flowers 
Is  stealing  in  upon  me;  'tis  a  fitting  time  to  tell 
The  rather  strange    adventure   that  to  all  of  us 

befell. 

Roys  began  it,  I  think ;  at  all  events,  la  belle 
Was  the  theme  we    dwelt   on.     (I  shudder  as    I 

tell), 
Not  for  what  was  said  so   much  as  what  might 

have  been. 
Phil,   'twill  be   a  lesson,  not  soon   forgot    by  us 

men. 
At   all  events,  Roys  began  it,  said,  "  Take  it  all 

in  all, 
One  would   not   call  Essie    'ugly ;'   for  his  part, 

he  liked  small 
Women,    like   la  belle   Sauvage ;    then,  as    to    her 

ways,  ah,  well, 


46  ESSIE 

She    was   very,    very    slangy !    but,    had   she    not 

to  dwell, 
All    her   young    life,    in    a    country   of    blasted 

plebeian  breed? 
For   his   part,    he    thought   Essie    did   very   well 

indeed." 
Tom   said,  "The    little  foot   that   peeped  out  in 

croquet 
Was    really    enough    in    itself    to    charm    one's 

heart  away." 
Guinn   said,   "  her  eyes    had   a   trick   of   looking 

one  through  and  through, 
Till   a   fellow  caught  himself   blushing,   as  boys 

are  apt  to  do." 
But  we    all   agreed   her  a  hoyden,  regretted  that 

lips  so  red 
Should    so    often   give    expression    to  words   left 

better  unsaid. 
We  agreed  that   our  English   ladies  would  vote 

her  horrid  and  loud ; 
And  then   we   asked  each   other,   collectively  in 

a  crowd, 
Would  we   be   willing  to  offer  ourselves   to   her 

for  life? 

Would  any  of  us  fellows  be  willing  to  take  as  wife 
The  object  of  our  converse  ?     "  'Twould  be  being 

cut  off  with  a  shilling," 


MfPHERKON'S   LETTER   CONTINUED          47 

Said  Guinn.     "I  could   not   ask   her,    even    if   I 

were  willing." 
Tom   said   they  would   be   aghast;    his  relations, 

they'd  raise  a  cry, 
That  made  him  say,  at  the  thought,  '•  He  would 

not  venture  to  try." 
Hoys  looked  glum ;   he   said,  "  An  officer  of    our 

day, 
And  particularly  a  junior,  had  plenty  to  do  with 

his  pay." 
Well,  we  all  said  something,  and  probably  would 

have  said  more, 
Had  not  something  worse  than  loudest  cannon's 

roar 
Reached  our  startled  ears.     A  voice  (not  "  gentle, 

soft,  and  low," 
That  excellent  thing  in  woman  the  poet  praises, 

you  know) 
Sounded   high   above    our   heads,    a   voice   borne 

by  the  breeze, 
A   voice    high   up    above    us    from    among    the 

garden  trees, 
Saying,   " '  Listeners  never  hear  any  good ; '  your 

comments  have  done  no  harm, 
For   in    all   your   land,    not   a   single    man    pos 
sesses  a  sinsrle  charm 


48  ESSIE 

For  '  la  belle  Sauvage '  /     She  hates  John  Bull, 
Hates   his    arrogant,  lordly  way,  and  so  accepts 

this  rather  full 
Dose  of   disapprobation.     Does  Sir  Guinn  fancy 

his  poky  way 
Of    lifting    his    eyes,  —  a    consummate    art,  —  or 

that  polished  flattery 
Can    win   the   heart  of   a   girl  American  born  — 

of  a  girl  who  was  reared  to  believe 
That  true  manhood  knows  not  how  to  deceive  ? 
So,  take  the  advice  of    Essie,  each  marry  a  flat- 
footed  girl, 
Let   each   man    fondly    cherish    as    his,    a   native 

pearl ; 
Wear  her  for  aye  on  your  bosoms  and  you  will 

never  repine ; 
In  conclusion,   mind  your  business,  and  be  sure 

/  will  mind  mine. 
Now,  if  you'll  kindly  retire,  I'll   get  down   from 

this  tree  ; 
For   I've    been    up    here    all    morning,    and    am 

tired  as   I   can  be." 
We    left,    Phil,    without    more    ado,    "  la    belle " 

had  us  all  in  disgrace ; 
And   we    wonder   how   she    will    treat    us    when 

next  we  meet  face  to  face. 


ESSIE   TO   HER   BROTHER  49 


ESSIE    TO    HER    BROTHER 

DEAR  CHICKEN,  — The  party  is  over.  It  was 
a  most  perfect  success, 

And  I  only  wish  I  had  the  power  to  faith 
fully  express 

The  impression  it  made  upon  me.  To  give  you 
a  slight  idea 

Of  how  a  social  gathering  is  arranged  and  con 
ducted  here. 

My  lady  bade  me  "  be  ready  to  receive  the 
guests  at  four;  " 

So,  just  at  five  minutes  of  it,  I  knocked  at 
her  boudoir  door. 

You  should  have  seen  her  stare,  Chick !  I 
know  she  thought  I  looked  well ; 

But  her  English  reserve  and  training  would 
not  let  her  tell. 

I  changed  my  mind  on  the  pink  silk  that  day, 
up  in  the  tree, 

And  resolved  to  out-do  England's  daughters  in 
primness,  if  that  could  be. 


50  ESSIE 

At  the  very  bottom  of   my  trunk  (hidden  away 

in  disgrace, 
From    my    puffed    and    furbelowed    dresses)    a 

white   muslin  had  its  place, 
Simple  as  hands  could  make  it.     This  I  resolved 

to  wear ; 
I    knew    that   this    sudden    change    would   cause 

a  general  stare. 

Well,   on  it  went,  this  simple  dress,  with  a  rib 
bon  belt  at  the  waist, 
And  at   my  neck  and  wrists   I    put   a   ruffle    of 

soft  lace. 
My    hair    I     did    "  la    Marguerite,"    and    it    hung 

like  two  coils  of  gold. 
Ah,    Chick,    I    knew    I    looked    pretty,    without 

even  being  told. 
I    took   some    half-blown    rose-buds,    and   pinned 

them   into  my   hair 
("  Marshal     Niels "    are    very    becoming    to    one 

whose  complexion  is  fair), 
And  I  did  not  put  on  a  jewel,  in  ear,  on  finger, 

or  breast ; 
Chick,    in    the    code    of   simplicity  I   could    have 

stood  the  test. 
My    slippers    were     only     thirteens,    as     la    belle 

Sauvage  has  very  small  feet; 


"Marshal   Nlel's  are  very  becoming. 


ESSIE   TO    HER   BROTHER  53 

And    a    small    foot  on   English    soil,  to  an   Eng 
lishman's  eyes,  is  a  treat. 
Well,    we    went   into    the    drawing-room,  and    in 

very  short  time,  my  dear, 
The   guests  that  had   been   bidden  —  the    guests 

from  both  far  and  near  — 
Were  with    us.      We   dorit  introduce,   that  is   not 

the  en  regie  way. 
The  unknown  guests  of  my  hostess  are  my  true 

friends  for  the  day. 
Every  one  talks  to  every  one  ;  but,  were  you  to 

meet  on  the  morrow, 
A   bow  to   these  very  same  fellows  would   be  to 

your  cost  and  sorrow. 
The  five  Adonises  were  on  hand,  Sweet  McPherson 

at  their  head. 
I    never    saw    men    look    so    foolish,    or   turn    so 

lobster  red, 
As  they  do  when  we  meet.     I   think  that  affair 

of  the  tree 
Was    about    as    jolly    a    thing    as    ever  happened 

to  me. 
They  feel  so  cheap,  you  know,  to  think  I  heard 

their  talk. 
Just    fancy    me    falling    a    victim    to    a    stupid 

English  gawk  ! 


54  ESSIE 

And,  above  all,  McPherson  Langley !     My  dear, 

a  bigger  bore 
Of    a    goose,    and   a   silly    donkey,   I   never  saw 

before. 
But    I    want   to    talk    of    the    party  —  six    girls, 

every  one  of  them  fair, 
With  the   pinkest  cheeks  and  the  whitest  teeth 

and  the  palest  kind  of  brown  hair. 
Six     fellows    (five     from     our    house),     and    to 

make  the  number  right, 
My  lady  had   the  kindness    the   young  curate  to 

invite. 
We    played  croquet  with  a  calmness  that  would 

make   an   angel  fret, 
I'm   sure.      "How  could   I    stand    it?"      I   just 

hated  it,  you  bet. 
I  tossed   the  balls  with  a  vengeance,  I   charged 

on  the  enemies'  field, 
Until   they  grew  more  earnest,  ?nd  seemed  less 

inclined  to  yield. 
And   then    came    the    prosy  dinner.      McPherson 

escorted  me ; 
And   I    made  up  my  mind  to   bore    him,    to   be 

slangy  as  I   could  be, 
So    I    asked   him   by   way  of    beginning,  "if   he 

had  any  money  to  spare?" 


ESSIE   TO   HER   BROTHER  55 

"If  he  had,   would  he   bet  I  could  not  ride  his 

colt,  young  '  Golden  Hair '  ?  " 
He  had  a  spoonful  of   soup  raised  at  the   time 

to  his  lips. 
He  tried  not  to  look  astonished,  and  took  three 

tiny  sips, 
Then    gave    up    and    said    gruffly,    "Miss    Bruce, 

you  never  must  dare, 
As    you    value    your   soul    and    body,    to    mount 

that  colt,  'Golden  Hair.'" 
"Don't  dare   me,"   I   answered   bluntly,    "or   I'll 

ride  her  in  spite  of  you ; 
For,   if  I'm   told   I   must  not,  that  thing   I   most 

surely  will  do" 
He  said,  "  Very  well !  as  I  pleased,  but  the  colt 

was  his,  he  forbade ; 
He    should    give    this    command    to    his   groom!" 

and  we  were  both  of  us  mad, 
And  we  never  spoke  another  word.     (McPherson 

gloivered,  I  planned 
How  my    Yankee   wit    could    get    of    John    Bull 

the  upper  hand.) 
A    heap    of    guests    arrived    at    night,    the    lawn 

was  a  fairy  hall, 
With  its  tent  and  colored  lanterns ;  of   course  1 

opened  the  ball. 


56  ESSIE 

You  know  what  a  ball    is,   Chick!  —  music   and 

dance,  that  is  all  — 
Flirtation    and    whispered   twaddle    is   about   the 

whole  of  a  ball. 
And  we  danced  —  the   night  wore   on,  and  'twas 

very,  very  late 
Before    the   last   guest's  carriage-wheels  left  the 

manor  gate. 
Chick,  I  have  not  gone  to  bed ;  Chick,  I'm  in  my 

riding-dress  ; 
Do   you   know  what    I'm   going   to   do?     I   bet, 

my  brother,  you  guess. 
Yes,  he  dared  me  not  to  ride ;  he  to  say  to  me, 

"  I  command!  " 
I  have  no  right  to  his  old  horse ;   but,  Charley, 

I  won't  stand 
His  saying  what  I  shall   do!     Good-by!   my  last 

words  may  be  said ; 
Who    knows    but   vicious    "  Golden    Hair "    may 

bring  home  Essie,  dead. 


Good-by  !    my  last  words  may  be  said." 


MePUERSON   TO  HIS  FRIEND  59 


McPHERSON    TO    HIS   FRIEND 

DEAR  PHIL,  —  Three  weeks  have  passed  since 
your  letter  came  to  hand, 

And  I'm  sorry,  dear  old  fellow,  to  have  had  to 
let  it  stand 

So  long,  without  seeming  reason  for  such  a  long 
delay ; 

But  when  you  hear  my  excuses,  your  wonder 
will  pass  away. 

I  meant  to  write  you  next  morning  —  to  write 
to  you  of  all 

That  had  occurred  of  interest  the  night  before 
at  the  ball. 

But  what  man  so  often  proposes  a  higher  power 
will  change, 

Disposing  one's  calculations  in  a  way  that  seems 
most  strange. 

It  was  late  ere  the  party  wras  over;  yet  we  fel 
lows  lingered  still  — 

The  smoke  from  our  "flor  del  fumas"  the  de 
serted  tent  did  fill. 


60  ESSIE 

We  laughed  and  talked  of  the  ball,  and  some 
how  when  we  came 

To  mention  la  belle  Sauvage,  we  dwelt  upon 
her  name 

With  a  sort  of  tender  accent ;  for,  Phil,  the 
little  sprite 

Had  (for  some  unknown  reason)  been  charm 
ingly  gentle  that  night; 

Been  gentle  to  all  but  me ;  and,  like  one  that 
is  possessed 

Of  a  devil,  appeared  Miss  Essie,  my  lady  mother's 
guest. 

She  inspired  a  feeling  of  anger;  and  yet  I'd  a 
sense  of  fear, 

That  this  gray-eyed  imp  of  girlhood  was  draw 
ing  very  near 

Some  dangerous  experience.  I  led  her  out  to 
dine  — 

A  penance,  not  a  pleasure,  yet,  I  could  not  well 
decline. 

I  resolved  to  do  the  agreeable,  she  resolved  the 
other  thing  — 

Result  —  all  my  good  intentions  in  a  moment's 
time  took  wing. 

Before  the  soup  was  over,  Miss  Bruce,  with  a 
jockey  air, 


McPHERSON   TO   HIS  FRIEND  61 

Bet   me  —  mark    you  —  bet    me,    she    could    ride 

young  "Golden   Hair." 
I  tried  to  keep  down  my  horror,  and  (still  more) 

my  supreme  disgust, 
And    that    my    replies    were    courteous     I    most 

sincerely    trust. 
I    don't  remember  what  I    said,    I   only  know   it 

cast 

An  utter  and  perfect  silence   over  our  whole  re 
past. 
Well,  I  thought  of  this  all  the  evening,  thought 

of  it  in  the  tent  — 

Thought  of  Miss  Essie's  flashing  eyes,  and  won 
dered  if  she  meant 
To    defy   my   warnings ;    and    I    resolved   to    tell 

the  groom 
The  earliest  thing  in  the  morning,  that  it  would 

seal  his  doom 
If  ever  he  let  a  being,  man  or  woman,  young  or 

fair, 
Or    ugly    or    old    as     Methuselah,    mount    upon 

"Golden    Hair." 
(So    I    said    not    a  word   to    the    boys,   who    had 

by  degrees  slipt  away ; 
We  were  all  in  the  land  of  slumber  before  the 

dawn  of  day.) 


62  ESSIE 

I  woke  with  a  start,  the  village  bell  was  calling 

out  for  seven ; 
I  turned  upon  my  pillow,  resolving  to  sleep  till 

eleven, 
When  a  thought  of  my  purpose  regarding  young 

"Golden  Hair," 
Changed  my  plan ;    I  at  once  arose,  and  dressed 

me  then  and  there ; 
I    hurried   down  —  the  old   house  was   wrapt   in 

slumber  yet, 
And    I   laughed    to   myself,  Phil,  thinking,  "for 

once  I'll  surely  get 
The  best  of  la  belle  Sauvaye  ;    I'll  stop  this  one 

mad  prank, 
Her    neck  shall  not  be   broken,   and   she'll    have 

me  to  thank." 
The   stable    door   stood    open,    the     horses   were 

champing  their  hay ; 
I    called   out   for   the  groom,    Thomas,   he    came 

with  "Aye,  sir,  aye." 
I  gave  my  command   at  once;    you   should  have 

seen  the  surprise 
That   came    over    the    face    of   the    fellow ;     you 

should  have  seen  his  eyes 
Grow    large     with     utter    amazement.        "  Why, 

Master,  you  don't  tell  me  so; 


McPHERSON    TO  HIS   FRIEND  63 

Miss    Essie    rid    off    on    '  Golden    Hair  '    more 

than  an  hour  ago. 
She  came  and  bade  me  side-saddle  the  mare,  she 

said  '  'twas  a  bet ' 
That   you    had   made   atween  you  ;   that  she  was 

afeared  to  set 
On    such    a    skittish    young   creetur    as    this   'ere 

'Golden  Hair.' 
I  said  all   I  could  to  dissuade  her ;    but,  Master, 

I  did  not  dare 
To  say  '  No '  to  such  as  Miss  Essie ;  and,  beside, 

I  thought  it  your  will. 
I    was    afeared,    I    tell    you,    and    am   a    fearing 

still." 
There  was  no  time  for  parley.     I  bade  him  saddle 

41  Jane," 
Asked   which   direction   they  took.       "  She  went, 

sir,  by  hillside  lane." 
I  wanted  no  more,  but  galloped  away,  my  heart 

beating  high  with  fear, 
Dreading    to    look,    dreading    to    think,    of    what 

might  soon  appear. 
I    galloped    on  ;    nothing    in    sight,    all    peaceful, 

calm,  and  fair, 
No  reckless  Essie  within  view  on  more  reckless 

"Golden  Hair." 


64  ESSIE 

On  I  pressed,  looked  right  and  left,  a  curve  in 

the  road,  a  hill  beyond ; 
At  its   foot,  in   the  morning  light,  the  waters  of 

mill-brook  pond 
Glistened  in  the   morning  sun ;   then   on   my  ear 

fell  the  din 
Of  the  Eastern-bound  train,  to  the  town  beyond 

coming  in. 
It    turned    a    sharp    curve    on    its    way  ;     on    it 

came  —  God  have  mercy  !  —  there, 
With    loosened    rein,    and    laughing    face,    came 

Essie  upon  "Golden  Hair," 
Riding  along  at  leisurely  pace  ;    the  memory  of 

her  young,  sweet  face, 
As  it  looked  in  that  moment  of  peril,  Phil,  has 

in  my  memory  forever  a  place. 
The    beautiful,    mettlesome    little    mare    seemed 

pleased  with  the  dainty  burden  she  bore, 
And   turned   her   graceful    neck    to   look    at  the 

face  of  her  rider  once  more. 

But  the  sharp,  shrill  whistle  strikes  on  her  ear, 
Her   nostrils    quiver,    her    eyes    grow   wild,    and 

her  body  trembles  in  nervous  fear ; 
Another,    another    shrill    resound,    till    far-away 

echoes  take  up  the  sound  — 
One  maddening  plunge,  one  wild  rebound, 


65 

And,  like  the  morning  wind,  on  rushes  "  Golden 

Hair." 
I   looked    in    speechless    terror,    wondering    does 

she  bear 
Her   rider   yet,    or    has    she    flung    her    precious 

burden  fair. 
No ;    bravely    holding     to     the     reins,  on     Essie 

came. 

I  strained  my  lungs,  I  called  the  name 
Of  horse  and  rider  —  ';  Whoa  !    whoa,   '  Golden 

Hair '  I " 

"  Keep  tight  hold,  Essie,  on  that  cursed  mare !  " 
She    heard    my   voice.      I   thought  that    I   could 

trace 

A  look  of  courage  on  the  pinched  white  face  ; 
And  back  upon  the  breeze,  Phil,  this  reply 
Was  wafted  to  my  ears,   "  Give    in   to  '  Golden 

Hair,'  not  I!  " 
And,  sure   enough,   friend  Phil,   the   mare  began 

to  slack, 
And,  as  she  drew  up  beside  me,  Essie  remarked, 

"Mr.  Mac, 
I    am    sorry   I    took    your   dare,  —  a    runaway   is 

not  gay,— 
Mr.  Langley,  if   you've    no   objection,  I    think    I 

shall  faint  away." 


66 


I    had   her    down    from    tk  Golden    Hair  "   in   less 

time  than  I  can  speak  ; 
She   lay  in   my  arms   like   a  lily,   so  gentle    and 

white  and  meek  ; 
Her    brown    hair    all    tossed    and    tumbled,    her 

bonnet  gone  (Heaven  knows  where)  ; 


&m 
$5u-,-# 

LJj*SJF 

a'JrV.^i?- 


i    ..     A!S>-' 
tel^ 


But  what  woman  wants  a  bonnet  with   such    a 

wealth  of  hair? 
I  bathed  her  white  face  from  the  brook,  holding 

her  on  my  breast, 

And  I  felt  in  this  situation  particularly  blessed; 
When  the  lovely  gray   eyes  opened,   and    called 

me  to  earth  again, 
By  the  pretty  lips  remarking,  "  I  think  I'll  ride 

home  on  ' Jane  ; ' 


MePIIERSON   TO  HIS  FRIEND  67 

I  think  I  will,  for  my  poor  wrist  aches  like  all 

possessed ; 
And  you  can  manage  '  Golden  Hair '  a   little  bit 

the  best." 
Phil,  since   then   she's    been   a   lamb  ;   and   now 

that  the   boys  are  away, 
I  suppose  I  must  give  up   Switzerland,  and  just 

resolve  to  stay, 
And   do    the    agreeable   to  Essie,  —  her  vacation 

is  almost  passed,  — 
And  try  to  make   her  stay  with   us   pleasant   to 

the  last. 
In    three    weeks    from    now   she    leaves    us,    and 

then  I'm  coming  to  town. 

O 

I  shall  feel  quite   like   a   hero,   worthy  of    much 

renown, 
For  having   made    myself    a    martyr  to    be    kind 

to  this  little  child 
(Who  is  not  so  bad,  after  all,  Phil,  only  a  trifle 

wild). 
Well,  my  letter  ends;  I'll  be  with  you  as  soon 

as  Miss  B.  goes  away, 
And,    for    the    present,    Sir    Philip,    I    wish    you 

a  very  good  day. 


68  ESSIE 


FROM    ESSIE'S   JOURNAL 

WELL,  little  old  Journal,  my  trusty  friend, 
Do  you  know  my  visit  has  come  to  an  end? 
And  that  I  am  back  in  the  land  I  adore  (?) 
Monsieur     "  Johnny     Crapaud's  "     dear,     native 

shore ! 

My  visit  is  over  —  my  fair  holiday, 
With  the  things  that  were,  shall  be  put  away 
Far  in  the  past,  that  ever  seems 
To    grow    bright    and    more    fair    in    memory's 

dreams. 

When  I  came  that  day  from  that  horrible  ride, 
I  sort  of  and  kind  of  resolved  I'd  decide 
Never  to  take  a  dare  again  (I   nearly  broke   my 

neck  that  day, 
And,  as   a   general   practice,   neck-breaking   does 

not  pay). 

I   resolved  to  utter  fewer  words   in  vulgar  par 
lance  called  "  slang  ;  " 

But,  if   life  depended  on  keeping  that  vow,   I'm 
afraid  I'd  have  to  hang. 


FROM  ESSIE'S  JOURNAL  69 

Oh !     when     the    whistle    blew    that    day,     and 

"  Golden  Hair  "  grew  wild, 
Every  wicked   thing  I'd  ever  done  since  I  was 

a  little   child, 
Came    before     me    in    a   flash.      I    thought    my 

"  bucket   would  kick," 

And  I  wondered  if   I  was  so   bad,  that  his  ma 
jesty,  "Old  Nick," 
Would    catch    me    from    wild    "  Golden     Hair," 

and  take   me  down  to  dwell 
With    Eurydice    and    himself,    in    his    brimstone 

abode   in  —  well, 
I    won't   name   the    city  —  but    I    did    not    care 

to  go  ; 
I    did    not   like   the   prospect,    I    tell   you,    "  not 

for  Joe!" 
Then  there  came  to  me  this  comfort  —  I  weren't 

so  very  bad, 
And  the   Master,  way  up  yonder,  I   remembered 

that  He  had 

Known   our  sin   and   weakness,   endured   tempta 
tion  too ; 
So  I  was  sure   He'd  open   the  gate  and  let   my 

little  soul  through  ; 
And     in     that     sweet     assurance     my    fears     all 

slipped  away, 


70  ESSIE 

While  my  heart  asked   God  "  to  take   me,"  and 

my  lips  began  to  say  — 
"Now     I     lay     me"  —softly    (as     I     do    every 

night), 
But  while    I    looked   to    Providence,   you  bet   / 

held  the  reins  tight! 
Then,  lo !  upon  me  dawned  —  now,  Journal,  who 

do  you  guess  ? 
Why,  Mr.   McPherson   Langley,    in    his  knicker- 

bocker  dress, 
On  his   pretty   mare  called  "Jane,"   with  eager, 

anxious  speed, 
He    was    hastening   toward   me.     I    was   glad   to 

see  him,  indeed; 
Somehow  he   was    not    so    ngly,   viewed    by   that 

morning  light, 

And  I    don't    think    that    man    ever   was    so    fail- 
to  woman's  sight. 
Not    Adonis    unto    Venus,    not    ^Eneas    to    the 

queen 
Called  "Dido,"  with  her  wild  love,  looked  more 

beautiful,  I  ween. 
He   came    from    death   to   save    me,    ah  !    life   is 

very  sweet  — 
We  never  know  its  value  till  death's  dark  form 

we  meet ; 


FROM  ESSIE'S  JOURNAL  71 

Till    we    see    the    arrow    quiver,    feel    that    the 

bended  bow 
Is  eager  to  drink  our  heart's   blood,  and  lay  our 

head  so  low ; 
But  I  would   not   have   him  know  it  —  know  I 

was  glad  he'd  come ; 
So    I    rode    toward    him    madly,    with    lips    both 

white  and  dumb, 
Till  I  heard  his  voice  ('twas  music)  cry,  "  Hold 

tight,  Essie  !     Whoa,  'Golden  Hair  ' !  " 
(He    might    have    cried,    "  Whoa,    Emma  !  "   for 

all  that  mare   would  care.) 
But  "  Hold  tight,  Essie,"  gave  me  courage,  and 

I  clung   like   all  possessed, 
While    my    heart    beat,    oh  !    so    loudly,   against 

my  frightened  breast ; 
But    I    answered,    in    my   weakness,    that   /  did 

not  mean  to  let  go ! 
And    then    ('twas    a    marvel)    "  Golden    Hair  " 

began  to  slow, 
And  grew  slower,  and  still  slower,  in  her  eager 

pace, 
Till  Mr.  Langley  and  Essie  Bruce  were  actually 

face   to  face. 
Of    course,    like   a   fool   I   fainted;    I   was    mad, 

be   sure   of   that ; 


72  ESSIE 

So   weak  and   namby-pamby,  just  like    a   regular 

"flat." 
And  when   I  sort   of  "came   to"    (but  before    I 

had  strength  to  rise 
From    a    very    romantic    position,    and   too    weak 

to  open  my  eyes), 
I  could  swear,  if  it  ivasrit  wicked,  that  I    heard 

as  plain  as  day, 
McPherson  say,  "  precious  darling ! "  in  the  most 

smoodling  way. 
He    call    "Za    belle    Sauvage"    "precious"  —call 

Essie  Bruce  "  darling  "  too  ! 
I   wonder  the    earth   did  not   open,  and   offer  to 

let  me  through. 
And    then,  —  well,    Journal,  —  McPherson,    who 

looks  with  infinite  scorn 
Upon   girls,  and  green  me  above  all,  kissed   me, 

as  sure  as  you're  born ! 
I  suppose  I  should  have  been  angry;  I'm  a  little 

afraid  I  was  not; 
An  hour  before  I'd  have  slapped  his  face,  and 

looked  as  angry  and  hot 
As    a    large,    new-boiled    lobster;    but    there    I 

lay,  pale  and  calm 
As   a    lily   on    a    May    morning,    with    my   head 

on  his  great  big  arm. 


FROM  ESSIE1 8  JOURNAL  73 

But   I    had    to    come    to   myself ;    I   opened    my 

eyes  and  said,  — 
"  O    Mr.  Mac,   you're    tired ;    I'm    sorry  my  poor 

head 
Proved    so   weak    a    member ;    thanks   for   your 

kindly   support. 
1  won't  faint  again,  I  assure  you ;    it's   not  very 

pleasant  sport." 
He  said,  "Thank   Heaven  it's  over!"  I  replied, 

"Ah,  yes,  I  survive;" 
Then  we    never  spoke  another  word  for  all   the 

rest  of  the  drive. 
My    lady    never   reproved    me ;    and    as   for   Sir 

Charles,  he  said, 
"I  was   a  trump;"  he  liked  my  pluck,  so    there 

was  nothing  to  dread. 
And  then   I    spent  three  such  weeks !     McPher- 

son  seemed  to  change ; 
And  from  that  morning  /  liked  him;  and,  what 

is  still  more  strange, 
He  gave  up  Switzerland's  journey,  and  devoted 

himself  to  me. 
What  caused   all  this  sudden  changing,  I  can't 

for  the  life  of  me  see. 
The    days    of    the    three    weeks    flew   on    great, 

wide  wings  away, 


74  ESSIE 

And   before  I   knew  it,   Journal,   had   come   the 

parting  day. 

I   got   up  very  early,  intending  to  visit  the  gar 
den  below, 
To    say  good-by  to  the  landscape  I  had  learned 

to  love  and  know. 
Then    I  passed  through   the   rustic  garden  gate, 

to  the  meadow,  where  the  dew 
Lingered  on  the  green  blades  and  "violet  eyes" 

so  blue ; 
And    I    wished    (a   very   silly   wish)    that   every 

drop  was  a  tear 
Of    regret,    from   Nature's    children,    that    Essie 

was  leaving  here. 
I   stooped   to   gather   some   blossoms   to   take  as 

mementos  sweet 
Of  the    pleasant  visit  ended,  when  the  sound  of 

coming  feet 
Rustled    in    the   grass    behind   me,    and   lo,    and 

behold !  there  stood 
My   stalwart   friend  McPherson,    and   he   looked 

"  very  good  " 

(As  the  Bible  hath  it).     His  strong,  blond  Eng 
lish  face 
Seemed   full    of    feeling;    and   I'm   sure    that    I 

could  trace 


FROM  ESSIE'S  JOURNAL 


75 


A   sadder   tone    in    his    full    voice,   as    he   said, 

"  I'm  glad  you're  here  !  " 
"  Yes  ?     well,    I    came    to    say   good-by    to    this 

meadow,  grown  so  dear 
To  '  la  belle  Sauvage,"1  your  guest ;  I  have  spent 

such  happy  hours 


Out   here    among   the    clover   and    the    nodding 

blue-eyed  flowers ; 
And  I'm  glad  you  are  here ;   I  can  say  good-by 

to  you 
In   this    meadow    very   much    better    than    at   the 

house  I'll  do. 


76  ESSIE 

Mr.  McPherson  Langley,  if  I've  ever  been  hate 
ful  or  rude 
(And    I    can    be  both,  I    know,  if    it    happens   to 

suit  my  mood), 
Won't  you  please  forgive  me?     You  know  I'm 

a  perfect  child ; 
And    I'm     motherless,    Mr.    Langley,    and    I've 

grown  up  ever  so  wild. 
When  you   first   called  me  '•la   belle    SauvageJ  I 

hated  you  with  a  will ; 
But   now  I  ask  as  a  favor,  that  you   will  think 

of  me  still 
As  '  la  petite   squaivS   '  la  belle  SauvageJ  as   just 

wild  little  Essie  Bruce, 
With  whom,  after  many  a  squabble,  you've  raised 

a  perpetual  truce. 
And  I  hope   and  trust  that  some    day  we   shall 

meet  again  ; 
And   be  assured,  whenever  it  is,  you'll  find  that 

you  retain 
My    honest   and   true    friendship ;    and    I    hope, 

sir,  ere  long  to  hear 
That  you've  found  the  lady  of  your  heart,  some 

one  just  as  near 

Your   idea   of    perfection   as   this   earth   can   be 
stow  ; 


I    left  a  kiss  on   his  forehead.' 


FROM  ESSIE'S  JOURNAL  79 

But  it's  breakfast  time  —  by-by,  for  please  —  sir, 

I  must  go." 
He  was   bending   over  the    rustic   gate,  his    eyes 

looking  into  mine, 
Mine   that  were    brimming  over  with  very  salty 

brine 
(Salty    because    I    tasted    one),    and    then  —  oh, 

Journal  —  don't  tell, 
For  it's  awful  to  act  on  impulse,  but  I  did,  and 

—  and  —  well ! 
It    was    a    motherly    impulse,    and    he    looked  so 

very  sad, 
That   I   left   a   kiss    on   his    forehead,    and    then 

took  to  my  heels  like   "mad." 
Journal,   I    never   once    looked   back,    I   did   not 

see  Mac  again  ; 

For  to  my  lady's  amazement  he   took  the  noon 
day  train 
To  London ;  kt  important  business   called  him  at 

once  to  town." 
Business!  his  business!  I'll  bet  that  nothing  took 

him  down 
But  to  send  on  board  the  steamer  such  a  basket 

of  fruit  and  flowers 
That  I  forgot  to  be  seasick  for  actually  several 

hours. 


80 


ESSIE 


I'm   back   in   the   old   dull   routine,   and   I   feel 

myself  acting  queer; 
I  go  dreaming  and  mooning  about  in  a  way  I'd 

have  scorned  last  year; 
Dreaming  of  great  blond  whiskers  (that  I  used 

so  much  to  despise), 
Of  an  English  voice,  and,  above  them  all,  of  a 

pair  of  dark  brown  eyes. 
And  I've  actually  pressed  some  flowers.      Guardy 

says,  "I'm  growing  refined." 
Perhaps  I'm  in  (Heaven  forbid  it)  —  in  love,  or 

out  of  my  mind. 


MePHERSOX    TO   HIS   FRIEND  81 


McPHERSON    TO    HIS    FRIEND 

DEAR    PHILIP,  —  I've    no    need    to   tell    you   of 

Sir  Hugh's  death  last  week ; 
The   Times  reported  the  sad  event,  so  of  that  I 

won't  stop  to  speak. 
Well,    we    obedient    relations,    like    a    party    of 

black  crows 
(Made    me    think    of   some   scene  from  Dickens, 

in  our  sombre  mourning  clothes), 
Followed  the  old  man's  body  to  its  last  resting- 
place  ; 
And   then    I,    seeing   no   reason    to   stay,  turned 

my  steps  to  retrace  ; 
For   I   saw   no   need  of   my  going    back   to   hear 

the  will 
Of    my    maternal    uncle,    who    never   seemed    to 

thrill 
With    an   overflow  of    affection ;    in    fact,   sad   as 

it  may  be, 
Sir  Hugh  and  I  had  never  been  known  on  one 

point  to  agree. 


82  ESSIE 

When  a  boy  I  was  always  treading  on  some  of 

his  gouty  ways, 
And  lie   did  not  seem  to  admire  the    course    of 

my  manhood  days. 

Then   there   were   hosts   of  cousins  who   had  hu 
mored  each  caprice, 
So  why  did  I  want  to  hear  what  he'd  left  each 

nephew  and  niece? 
So    I    was    rather    astonished    when    my    uncle's 

legal  man 
Begged  "I'd  return  to  the  castle"  with  the  rest 

of  the  mourning  clan. 
Indeed,  he  thought  "  I  had  better,"  so  of  course 

what  else  could  I  do? 
And  we  gathered  in  the   parlor,  looking  as  cold 

and  blue 
As  if  from  the  bit  of  paper  the  lawyer  held  in 

his  hand 
We  were  to  be  perpetually  blessed  or  irrevocably 

damned. 
Ye    gods !    'twas    like    a    thunder-clap !       Some 

legacies  (very  small) 
Were    left   to    others  —  to   me,    Phil,    was    given 

everything  —  all ! 
Titles,  estates,   rank,   fortune,  on  this  condition, 

my  friend, 


McPHEESON   TO   HIS   FRIEND  83 

"  That  I  should  marry  a  wife,"  Phil,  "  before  four 

weeks  should  end !  " 
After  the  will  had  been  read  to  my  disappointed 

kin 
(A   will  right    and  tight  as   a  rivet),  I  tell  you 

I  felt  thin 
Over  the  stern   proviso.     Once  I  told  my  uncle 

that  I 
Had    forsworn    women    forever,    and    a    bachelor 

should  die. 
He  never  said  pro  or  con,  but  hoarded  it  up  in 

his  head, 
To   make   me   eat   with   a  relish   my   words   after 

he  was  dead. 
Only    four    weeks    to    choose    a    partner    for   my 

life  — 
Only   four   weeks   to    court    a   girl,   and   get    her 

for  a  wife ! 
I  could  not  keep  the  secret ;  and  the  girl  I  asked 

would  know 
That  if  she    did  not   have    me,   I'd   have   to    let 

all  go. 
And    in    the    sweet    by-and-by,    when    differences 

should  be 
Occasionally  discussed   between   my   chosen   one 

and  me, 


84  ESSIE 

She   (after   the    manner   of   her   sex)   would    not 

hesitate  to  tell 
Me  o'er  again  the  story  that  I    should  know  so 

well. 
Tell  me  "  I  owed  my  title,  my  home,  my  wealth, 

my  land, 
To   her  wearing    my   ring    on  her  finger,   to  her 

giving  me  her  hand." 
Then    I    thought    over    every   woman    known    to 

me,  high  or  low ; 
And  to  each  "Shall  I    ask  her?"  my  soul  cried 

out  loudly,  "JVo/" 
Did    I    say   to    every   woman  ?      There   was    owe, 

with  soft  brown  hair, 
And  wonderful   star-like   eyes   that  kept  coming 

before  me  there  ; 
A  little  childish  creature,  with  a  saucy,  malicieux 

face. 
By  Jove !  Phil,  there  stood  Essie  !  and  she  seemed 

to  fill  the  place 
Better    than    Lady    Betty,    better   than    Florence 

Bryne 

Whose   wealth   is    rumored   fabulous    (she's   con 
sidered  a  diamond  mine 
By    fortune-hunting     fellows),     and     she    would 

give  her  hand 


McPHERSON   TO   HIS   FRIEND  85 

To    one    called    Mr.    Mac    Langley,    I've    been 

given  to  understand. 
But   what's    her   wealth   to   the    bright    eyes    of 

a   little   girl   I   know  ? 
And  what  jewel  does  her  casket   hold   that   my 

darling  can't  bestow  ? 

What    pearl    so    fine    and    priceless   as    the    per 
fect  teeth  that  show 
Their  whiteness  in  rare  contrast  to  the  red  lips' 

ruby  glow? 
What   diamond   in   the    wide   world   can   sparkle 

like  the  wit 

Of    the    dashing   little    woman,    when    her   lady 
ship  sees  fit? 
I  could  string  her  into  a  chain  of  jewels   worth 

far  more 
Than    ever   mortal    connoisseur  had   gazed   upon 

before. 
Ah !  I,  who  had  hated  all  women,  was  suddenly 

brought  to  see 
That     my    only     anguish     now    was,    lest     one 

woman  cared  not  for  me. 
I  resolved  to    make    the    venture ;   and   if  I    did 

not  succeed, 
Why,  I'd  have    to    go   in    pell-mell    and   do    the 

venturesome  deed 


86  ESSIE 

Of   blinding    my  eyes,  and  taking   the    first  one 

that  came  to  hand  ; 

So  I  gave  my  uncle's  lawyer  to  thoroughly  un 
derstand 
That   I    accepted   the   arrangement,  and,   without 

any  further  delay, 

Would  haste  to  ask   the   lady  to  speed  the  wed 
ding-day. 
I    stopped    at     Leighcroft     Manor    to     tell     my 

parents   the   news  ; 
To   tell   them    of    the    bride    I    sought,    and   ask 

them  not  to  refuse 
Their   blessing   if    I    won   her.      Imagine  !    'twas 

not  a  surprise. 
My   lady  began    to    hug   me,    with    tears   in    her 

dear  old  eyes, 
To   tell   me,    "she    hoped    it  would   be,   she   had 

learned  to  love  Essie  so, 
And   she    did  not  think  her  little  girl  would  say 

to  her  big  boy,  '  No  !  ' 
My  lord   had   to  wipe   his    glasses,  said,  "  all  he 

had  to  say, 
Was,  when  Little  Sunshine  came  again,  it  would 

be  a  happy  day." 
So  I  crossed   the    Channel,  feeling    most    mighty 

queer ; 


McPHERSON   TO   HIS   FRIEND  87 

Feeling  queerer  and  queerer,  the  nearer  I  drew 

near. 
First    I    went   to    the  guardian ;    he   looked  like 

one  perplexed, 
As  if  he  very  much  wondered  what  was  coming 

next. 
He    said,    "  to    tell    me    the    truth,    he   had   very 

little  to  say 
On  this,   or  any  matter,  Miss   Bruce  would   have 

her  own  way  ; 

And  that  if   he,  her    guardian,    pronounced    him 
self  content 
With    me,    as    Miss    Bruce's    lover,    Dr.    Bruce 

would   give    his    consent." 
So  we  went  to  the  school  together.     Miss  Bruce 

was  summoned  in ; 
I   shall    never   forget    the    saucy  nod,  as  though 

she  cared  not  a  pin 
For    her    beloved    guardian,    still   far,   far    less 

for   me, 
And   had   not  quite  decided  whom  we  had  come 

to  see. 
She    nodded    to     her    guardian,    gave     me     her 

finger-tips, 
But     her    pink     cheeks     grew    pinker    when     I 

pressed  them  to  my  lips. 


88  ESSIE 

She   snatched  the  white    hand   from    me,  saying, 

"Mr.  Mac,  do  you  know, 
Kissing   saints'  fingers,  not   sinners^   is   in    Paris 

•  all  the  go  '  ?  " 
(Slangy    little     Essie  !)      I    bent,    lest    Guardy 

should   hear, 

And  whispered   under   my   breath   into   her  sea- 
shell  ear, 
"  Kissing  a   sinner's  forehead  seems  in  England 

now  the  style, 
So  why   should    not    sinners'    fingers    be    kissed 

in   France  once  in  a  while  ? " 
Then   Guardy  found  it  convenient  to   take   him 
self  away  ; 
And   once   alone,  I    hastened  to  say  what  I  had 

to  say. 
I    don't   know    how   I   did.     When    I    thought    I 

had  it  to  do, 
I    pondered    over  the   puzzle,  wondering   how  in 

the  deuce  I'd  get  through. 
But.  by    George  !    it   was   not   so    hard    to    say, 

"  I  love  you,  my  dear  !  " 
When  the    object   of   my  affection  was   so  very, 

very  near; 
Not  hard  to  tell  my  story,  when  Essie's  lovely 

eyes 


McPHERSON   TO  HIS  FRIEND  89 

Were  looking  kindly  on  me,  in  childish,  pleased 

surprise. 
She   listened  earnestly   to   me,  a  shadow  on  her 

sweet  face 
Of    thought    I    had    never   seen    before,    adding 

new  charm  and  grace. 
Her   head   drooped   low  when   I    asked   her  "  to 

be  my  own  for  life  "  — 
Drooped    lower    still,    when    I    called    her    "  my 

precious  little  wife  !  " 
Then    I    took    her   in    my    arms,    and   she    raised 

her  pretty  head  — 

Phil,    these    were    the    very   words   that   my    be 
trothed  said,  — 
"  I've    got   plenty    of   money,    so    I    don't    marry 

you  for  that; 
And  as   for  your  new  title  I   care  no  more    than 

a  cat! 
But  you've  got  to  marry  some  one,  I  very  plainly 

see ; 
And  I   suppose,  take  it  all  in    all,  you'd   do   as 

well  with  me 

As    you    would   with   Lady    Flora  (or  lady  any 
thing), 
For  this  I  know,  your  lordship,  there  is  not  one 

could  bring 


90  ESSIE 

In    her    dower    the   gift   I  cany ;   and,  Mac,    I'll 

tell  3'ou  true, 
I've    tried    all   my  might  to  hate  you,  but    I    love 

you  ;  yes,  I  do  ! 
Mac,    I'll    try    to    be    better ;    but   you    must    be 

better  still, 
And    if    you    are,    old    fellow,    I     think    we    can 

climb  the  hill 
Of   life    very  well    together ;    and    when   we   are 

old  and  gray, 
We   may  be  glad  we    promised   to   be  man  and 

wife  to-day. 
I  am   glad    my  lady  loves   me ;    and  Sir  Charles 

is  a  darling,  dear, 
And  I'd  hug  them  both,  I  tell  you,  if  they  were 

only  here." 
But  I  was  a  jealous  lover ;  I  wanted  the  "  hugs  " 

myself. 
Phil,  I  think  /  shall  be  slangy,  when  I  get  the 

pretty  elf 
For   a   positive,  life-long  companion.     We  marry 

in  two  weeks'  time, 

So,  come   on,  old   fellow,  and  hear  our  wedding- 
bells  chime. 
Essie   is    blithe    as    a    bird.     I've    promised    the 

child,  next  fall 


McPHERSON   TO  HIS  FRIEND  91 

If  the  gods  are  propitious,  Ave  will  go  and  make 

a  call 
On  the  land  of  the  "  Star  Spangled  Banner."     I 

wish  you  could  hear  Essie  tell, 
The    surprise    she    expects    to    create,    it   would 

pay  your  hearing  well. 
She    says    they'll    expect   to    see    her,    majestic, 

stately,  and  wise  ; 
And  when  they  find  only  Essie  has  come    back, 

their  surprise 
Will  exceed  anything  ever  written,  for  she  never 

means  to  be 
Anything    but    "  la  belle    Sauvage  "  to  the  whole 

wide  world  and  me. 
I'm  happy ;    yes,   so  happy,   that  earth  seems  to 

hold  no  cloud ; 
I'm    satisfied    beyond    measure,    and   very,    very 

proud 
Of  my  blithe  and  bonny  darling ;  and,  Phil,  how 

in  the  deuce 
Could  I  ever  think  "  Squaw  "  or    "  Sauvage  "    in 

the  least  like  ESSIE  BRUCE? 


92  ESSIE 


FROM    THE    TIMES 

AT  the  Legation,  on  Tuesday  last,  were  married, 
McPherson  Langley, 

Lord  Crighton  of  Castle  Wood,  Thorn  Hill,  and 
River  Way, 

To  Esther  Carlton  Bruce,  only  daughter  of  Dr. 
Gates 

Bruce  of  New  York  City,  in  the  United  States 

Of  America.     The  groom,  Lord  Crighton,  stands 

High  as  a  scholarly  gentleman,  and  ever  warmest 
praise  commands. 

The  bride,  Miss  Bruce,  is  beautiful,  witty,  accom 
plished,  refined; 

Beloved  by  all  who  know  her  for  both  charms 
of  heart  and  mind. 

Owing  to  recent  bereavement  in  the  family  of 
my  lord, 

And  Miss  Bruce  being  motherless,  the  wedding 
occurred  abroad; 

And  was,  we  understand,  a  strictly  private  af 
fair  — 


FROM   THE  TIMES 


93 


None  but  his   lordship's  parents  and  a  friend  or 

two  being  there. 
We  wish  for  my  lord  and  lady  all  the  blessings 

life  can  bestow; 
May  peace  and  joy  be  around  them  wherever 

their  footsteps  go. 


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